LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 79, 15 November 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Stratford Tennis Club’s courts are to be formally opened for the season to-morrow afternoon. Adjutant Wilson, in charge of the local branch of the Salvation Army, states that Stratford’s contribution to the Self-denial Fund this year totalled £74. The local cricket club will play a practice match with Eltham oir Thursday, journeying to Eltham for the purpose. The club has received a donation of two guineas from Mr. A. Richmond, Midhirst. The pitch at the Show Grounds is gradually being got in order.

Says this morning’s “News”:— “At about midnight a fierce squall or whirl-wind struck the centre of the town. Happily it was of brief duration ; otherwise the damage would have been considerable. Devon Street was littered with boards blown from buildings.” A similar squall struck Stratford, the thunder oind lightning being very pronounced. Mr. John Pamment, of Kumara, had a very unpleasant experience at breakfast one regent morning. While eating flounder a bone stuck in his throat and became embedded in the flesh. It could not bo seen, but on Mr. Pamment, senr., putting his finger down his souls throat the bone stuck in Ids finger also, and it was by this means that the bone was extracted.

Tlio recent energy shown by the Minister of Finance in hunting out and cutting down sinecures of all kinds, has roused perturbation in the mind of a humble, but little known French functionary. This is the official lady’s maid attached to the wife of the Prime Minister. She is lodged, clothed, and fed at the expense of the Republic, and, in addition, receives 100 francs a month salary. But since the fall of the Combes Cabinet in 1905, she has had nothing to do. for all the succeeding Premiers have either been widowers, bachelors, or divorced.”

The Minister of Agriculture has informed us that Ids Department is taking steps to extend its soil surveys, says the Hawera “Star.” Recently an agricultural chemist, accompanied by a surveyor, visited Otago to test the finalities of the soil in various parts, and so obtain reliable information for settlers as to the most suitable fertilisers, and grasses, to employ.

Tests in connection with grasses, plant breeding, and seed selection, were going on, a special officer for this work having recently been appointed at Moumahaki. The Minister added that the (fovernment were now considering whether to begin sugarbeet cultivation in New Zealand or not.

Mr W. C. Cargill, who now resides at Dovonport, Auckland, has resigned his seat on tho Taranaki Education Board. Mr R. Masters has been asked to stand for the seat by repres relatives of school committees, and has consented to do so.

Sir Joseph Ward will probably visit Stratford on November 27th to lay the foimdation stone of the Stratford High School. If the Premier’s engagements will permit him to give an-ad-dress while in Taranaki it will probably ho at Inglewood on the evening of November 27th. A Pohokura correspondent writes; —“On Friday last the Pohokura Defence Ratio Clii!> held a ball at the Hall, Pohokura, which was well attended in spite of the rainy weather, there being about- thirty couples. At supper time the pri/.e (won by the ladies at the shoot on Saturday last, I Lit), wore presented lay the vice-pre-sident, Mr F. Sandagger, with a few well chosen words. The catering was done by Mrs Heffcrman in her usual lavish style. Tiie music was very ably rendered by Messrs Sandagger and Bush.” The executive committee of the A. and P. Association 1 met- last night. Present: Messrs. Dingle, Malone, Dobson, Healy, Kirkwood, Sangster, R. Masters, and Hobbs. Mr. C. Johnston, Omoana, was appointed judge of poultry. A class was inserted in the schedule for best lady driver, a condition of entry being that entrants have never previously won a prize for driving. The secretary was instructed to write to the Agricultural Department asking them to visit the Show with exhibits and literature, and to have at least one official on the ground. The Margit, the wreck of which was reported yesterday, was a steel vessel of 1212 tons gross register, and was owned by Chris Nielsen and Co., of Larvik, Norway. The ill-fated vessel was a visitor to New Plymouth in July last, says the “News.” The vessel left Liverpool on March Bth, and after a voyage of 119 days, reached here on July 6th. The captain (0. Pettsrscn) came ashore and reported to the local police that he had had trouble with las crew, one of whom had been in jrons for several weeks. Later- several of the crew deserted, and on top of this two of tiie remaining seamen were imprisoned for trouble on board. The captain managed to secure a crew, who, however, when they saw the vessel, refused to put to sea. The vessel then underwent various repairs, and on August 4th the vessel put to sea for Port Victor, South Australia, arriving there on September 13—a passage of 41 days. The following remarks are taken from the report dated October sth, supplied by K. and W. Davidson, London, to Mr. Newton King:—-Con-tinental Butters: The high prices which arc now being asked is certainly curtailing the demand, the consumption not being nearly as .large at present. 1 Although the Danish quotation to-day is expected to ho advanced, the market as a' whole is scarcely so firm, and we are 'afraid that prices will require to he reduced again very shortly'.,, Telegraphic advices from Copenhagen yesterday indicate that the market,there continues, firm!,' and the quotation to-day, has been declared six kroner up.. |Tho total shipments of Danish |to this country this week show an increase of 1320 casks. Irish Butter: Owing to the strike the quantity forward this .week is rather limited. This morning, however, we are informed that the strike is yno,^;-definitely .-settled, so that butters which have been held hack will now ho coming forward as quickly as possible. We are afraid tin's means that there will he a considerable quantity of x stale butter on offer which may possibly affect tho market somewhat. Canadian Cheese:! There lias been a quieter feeling intho market during the, past week and. trade at tho moment is very dull. Cables are still quoting 71s c.i.f. Snot goods, both white and coloured, 69s to 70s. New Zealand: There is still nothing on the market. Nominal quotation 70s. The total imports up to 30th September of this year, and for the corresponding period of 1908, 1909, and 1910, are as follows: 1908, 1,695,528 cwt: 1909. 1,723.641 cwt.; 1910, 1,791,712 cwt; 1911, 1,743,217 cwt.